An unprecedented third-conseuctive national title is on the line when Appalachian State University takes on Delaware in Friday's NCAA Division I football national championship game at Finley Stadium in Chattanooga, Tenn. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. on ESPN2.
NOTING FRIDAY'S MATCHUP
?€˘ Appalachian (12-2) is looking to become the first program to ever win three-straight national titles at the NCAA Division I FCS (Football Championship Subdivision - formerly Division I-AA) level.
?€˘ With a win, ASU would become the first Division I squad since 1946 to win three national championships in a row and only the sixth program at any level of NCAA football to claim three-straight titles.
?€˘ The Mountaineers are only the fifth program in FCS history to boast three-straight national-championship game appearance.
?€˘ Appalachian comes into Friday's game with an 11-game postseason winning streak, a record for consecutive postseason wins in contiguous years at the FCS/I-AA level.
?€˘ The Mountaineers are undefeated in two previous trips to the national championship game. The Apps topped Northern Iowa, 21-16, in 2005 and defeated Massachusetts, 28-17, last year.
?€˘ Both of Appalachian's previous national titles have been won at Chattanooga's Finley Stadium. Combined with a 56-21 win over Chattanooga during the 2006 regular-season, ASU boasts a 3-0 record at Finley Stadium over the past 24 months. The stadium's primary tenant, UTC, has won only two games at Finley during that same span.
?€˘ Friday's matchup marks the Mountaineers' third versus an opponent from the Colonial Athletic Association during the 2007 postseason. The Apps snuck past James Madison, 28-27, in a first-round matchup on Nov. 24 and routed Richmond, 55-35, in last Friday's semifinal.
?€˘ Appalachian is 19-8 all-time versus current members of the CAA, which played under the Atlantic 10 banner until this season. However, ASU and Delaware have never met on the gridiron.
?€˘ Teams from the Southern Conference and CAA/A-10 have won seven of the last nine national championships, including titles by Delaware (2003) and Appalachian (2005, '06).
For more on Friday's game, including game notes, rosters, depth charts, video and audio reports and the Appalachian ISP Sports Network's live broadcast link, visit GoASU.com's Gameday Central page by clicking HERE.